Takamoto Katsuta will contest the full 2022 World Rally Championship season in a fourth Toyota Yaris Rally1 with Aaron Johnston as his co-driver.
It will be the second complete campaign in the top class undertaken by the Toyota junior, who is currently seventh in the 2021 drivers’ standings.
Katsuta has enjoyed a breakthrough season this year, scoring a maiden WRC podium on the Safari Rally, but is currently on a streak of five rallies without a point.
“This season has been very good for me,” said Katsuta.
“In the beginning I took it step-by-step and the results were getting better and better. Eventually we finished on the podium in Kenya, which was a very special feeling.
“After that, things have been a bit more difficult but I’m learning a lot from these hard moments and I hope it will be useful experience for the future.
“I’m looking forward to next year and the new generation of car, which will be very interesting and challenging.
“A lot will change and I’m really excited to see how it all feels in the car and also what we can achieve.”
In announcing Katsuta’s 2022 program, Toyota also confirmed that Johnston would take over the co-driver role from Dan Barritt on a permanent basis.
Johnston, Oliver Solberg’s former co-driver, first joined Katsuta for Rally Finland earlier this month and stayed in the seat for Rally Spain.
Katsuta and Barritt retired from Rally Estonia in July after Barritt reported neck and back pain on the opening day. He has not been in the co-driver’s seat on the four rallies since.
“I’m also looking forward to continuing working with Aaron; we already have a very good relationship and I am sure we can make it even stronger as we do more rallies together,” added Katsuta.
“I want to thank Dan very much for his huge support since 2016. Without it I wouldn’t have achieved any of the good results we have managed together.
“He has given me so much advice and we had many fun moments, and we will still be working closely outside of the car.”
Johnston was previously favorite for the vacant co-driver’s seat alongside Gus Greensmith at M-Sport.
